Stillwell Theatre
310 Broadway Avenue,
Bedford,
OH
44146
310 Broadway Avenue,
Bedford,
OH
44146
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Loews
Architects: Paul Matzinger
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Loews Stillwell Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Stillwell Theatre opened in 1941, as a neighborhood theatre. It had a seating capacity for 1,000. Loews took over the theatre in 1969 and closed it in 1977.
The theatre was used briefly by Bob Kay AMC as a storage area, then was demolished in 1980 to make way for a Ford dealership (first Bob Kay Ford, then Liberty Ford, now Frank Nero Lincoln Mercury.)
Contributed by
Toby Radloff
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Actually, I believe the Stillwell opened in ‘39 and was expanded from 850 to 1100+ seats in '41. It was on Cleveland’s “A” circuit, showing the biggest features, unlike the newer, nicer, bigger Mapletown not too far away. I remember the remodeling to accommodate the Cinemascope screen, and when they closed off the soda shop next door, (Mom worked there when she was in school) and reduced it to a mere lobby concession stand. The Stillwells were big on technology—I visited the booth before its closing-'couldn’t believe the audio-tape machines installed there, probably coincinding with “Around the World in Eighty Days” in Todd-AO 70.
When this site can take photos, I’ll send some-would you believe
AMC Gremlins in front of the Popcorn Stand!
A small community here in Nashville has been using an old Howard Johnson’s restaurant as their city hall. As I passed it yesterday I remembered that there had been one across from the Stillwell, Orange Roof, Steeple and all, right between the Dodge Dealer and the Ford Used Car lot!
The STILLWELL is the subject of this news item:
http://cinematreasures.org/news/14328_0_1_0_C/
This theater was own by Lowes Corp from the Mid 60’s til it closed in 1977. Only theater that they didnot twinn.
The Stillwell Theatre was built for Lena Stillwell, operator of the Bedford Theatre. Boxoffice of January 18, 1941, announced that the plans for the new house, construction of which was expected to begin that spring, had been prepared by Cleveland architect Paul Matzinger.
A.K.A. LOEWS STILLWELL.
1973 photo of Stillwell Theatre:
View link
Thanks for the photo Toby.
Listed in the newspapers 1939-1977
My parents introduced me to this theater in the late 1950’s,it was always treated like ‘a step up’ from some of the other neighborhood theaters in the suburbs closer to Cleveland. I remember “PT 109”, “Charade”, “Arabesque” and “Walk Don’t Run”(Cary Grant’s ‘swan song’)….I too remember the Howard Johnson’s across the street, and the Manners' father up Broadway into Bedford proper, and the Kenny King’s KFC on the way to Northfield Rd…..what an enjoyable and exciting youth I was allowed to have………